Leicester Tigers have launched an appeal against the nine-match ban handed to director of rugby Richard Cockerill last month.

The Tigers boss was hit with the lengthy suspension after being found guilty of using words that were "obscene, inappropriate and unprofessional" in an exchange with fourth official Stuart Terheege during Leicester's Aviva Premiership Final victory over Northampton in May.

The 42-year-old has accepted the guilty verdict but is appealing the severity of the sanction with the Rugby Football Union set to release details of a date and venue in due course.

The altercation was sparked by what Cockerill viewed as a dangerous tackle by Saints lock Courtney Lawes on Tigers fly-half Toby Flood. Lawes escaped a yellow card for the challenge and Cockerill left his seat in the Twickenham stands to berate the officials on the touchline.

Cockerill pleaded not guilty to the charge but the RFU panel decided he had acted in an "inappropriate and unprofessional" manner and banned him until November 3.